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Professor Jennie Brand-Miller made a Member of the Order of Australia

Professor Jennie Brand-Miller, from the School of Molecular Bioscience, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia, announced in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 13 June 2011.

The honour recognises her service to education in the field of human nutrition as a researcher and academic, and as a supporter of people with a hearing impairment.

Professor Jennie Brand-Miller, from the School of Molecular Bioscience, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia, announced in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 13 June 2011.

The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens, with the Member of the Order of Australia awarded for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.

"Being made a Member of the Order of Australia, for me personally, gives a feeling of achievement that recognises not just me, but the unique challenges of all women in science, and especially for those with a hearing impairment," said Professor Brand-Miller.

Professor Brand-Miller is well-known for her pioneering research into the glycaemic index (GI), which measures the effect of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Her research focuses on all aspects of carbohydrates, including diet, diabetes and insulin resistance. Her research group is internationally recognised for its work on nutritional aspects of food carbohydrates.

Having had two cochlear implants since gradually losing her hearing during her teens, Professor Brand-Miller also mentors people considering cochlear implants.

"In terms of my hearing impairment work, I chair the NSW Dept of Health Ministerial Standing Committee on Hearing which advises the Minister for Health, I'm on the research committee of the Shepherd Centre - a not for profit centre for children born deaf or hearing impaired, and I mentor people who are considering going under the knife to have a cochlear implant," said Professor Brand-Miller.

The nomination process for the Order of Australia honours is confidential, so Professor Brand-Miller doesn't know for certain who nominated her.

"I don't know for sure, but I think it was someone who worked tirelessly on my behalf - I'd like to say thank you to them for nominating me and feeling that I'd be a worthy recipient of the award. I received a letter to say I had been nominated, but not yet officially approved, about six weeks ago. I found out about being made a Member of the Order of Australia only days before the official announcement in the newspaper on 13 June!"

Professor Brand-Miller will receive her medal from the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir, in September or October this year at a ceremony in NSW Parliament House.

"When you work in a field that challenges authority and the dogma of the time, as I do with my work on carbohydrates in the diet, official recognition such as this is an extremely important step in making the paradigm shift," said Professor Brand-Miller.